The Environmental Learning Centre at Island Lake Public School in Orangeville is a combination of old and new technology dedicated to teaching students environmental stewardship.

The Learning Centre is a two-classroom, free-standing facility that uses solar energy, orientation and ventilation to function while being as environmentally friendly as possible.

The structure itself is built with wooden supports, straw insulation and plaster. The floor is made of polished concrete, and no glues were used on either the floor or the walls. The building’s southern orientation allows for a maximum amount of sunlight to penetrate the numerous windows as well as be in constant contact with the solar panel (or photo voltaic (PV) panels).

The power from a small turbine on the same property is also used to power the building. Any extra power generated that is not needed is supplied to the power grid with Orangeville Hydro reimbursing the board 80.2 cents for every kilowatt hour.

The sinks and washrooms operate on rainwater that is held in three reservoirs in the Learning Centre.

Currently, the grade five classes are using the Learning Centre as their classroom. The idea behind this is that every student will get the chance to have the Learning Centre as a classroom. The environmental aspects of the structure will then be worked into the curriculum.

“The best thing is that it really brings environmental education alive for students,” said Paul Scinocca, the board’s Manager of Capital Projects.

He said the idea behind the Learning Centre is to get the next generation to build smarter, to use the technology that we used in the past and expand on it.

In order to adjust the carbon dioxide levels and heat in the classrooms the windows and copula in the roof are designed to open and create a ventilation system. This sort of system can be found in barns in Ontario.

“We used ancient technology to inspire the way children think,” said Mr. Scinocca.

According to Mr. Scinocca, the simplicity of the design makes it cheaper to run. Solar panels on the roof will pay for themselves in between 10 and 12 years.

“The Learning Centre provides needed classroom space for students, and sends power from renewable resources for Orangeville Hydro which they can distribute to other customers in the Town,” he said.

This is the first time a building like this has been constructed in Orangeville. Due to the need for more classroom space at Island Lake PS, the board was able to put those funds toward this program.

“While we’re not yet to a point where we can say the centre operates at no cost to the board, that’s a target we’re aiming at meeting in the future,” said Mr. Scinocca.

The Environmental Learning Centre is an important tool in making students aware of where power comes from and how to monitor it. Students are taught to be aware of energy use and generation at school and take the lessons home to their parents.